Centre not to interfere in Bluestar memorial: Shinde

PTI,
New Delhi

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Updated: Oct 11, 2012 16:17 IST

The Centre on Wednesday said it would not like to interfere in the construction of the Operation Bluestar memorial in the Golden Temple by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), respecting the constitutional rights of such organisations.

Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the Centre was fully aware about the construction of the memorial by the SGPC.

"There are certain things which certain organisations do. They enjoy certain rights and we do not want to impinge on them," he said at a press conference here.

He was replying to a question on the central government's stand on the memorial.

Shinde said India has suffered a lot due to terrorism, and therefore, "one has to introspect".

"They (organisations such as SGPC) should understand that the country has suffered for many years," he said.

Asked whether the Centre had no objection to the construction of the Bluestar memorial, the home minister said, "It is not a question of objection or no objection. It is a matter of rights given to organisations by the Constitution."

"I have never said that it was right to construct the memorial. But it should be left to them. It is their institution and we cannot interfere unless somebody raises an objection in a court…" he said.

Asked about reports suggesting that there were attempts to revive militancy in Punjab, the home minister said the union government had information about activities by Sikh militants in Punjab and certain foreign countries.

Commenting on the attack on Operation Bluestar commander Lt Gen Kuldip Singh Brar (retd) in London, Shinde said the former army officer had gone there on a private visit.

"He is under the military's cover and our information is that the police were not informed (about his London visit)," he said.

Asked whether Brar's security had been enhanced after the assassination attempt, Shinde said, "It is the obligatory duty of the police and the government to do a review from time to time, month by month and give protection."